Gas-producer.



H. F. WALLMANN.

GAS PRODUGER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1906. RENEWED JAN. 3, 1911.

1,072,536. Patented Sept. 9, 1913. I

2 SHEBTSSHEET l.

H. R'WALLMANN.

, GAS PRODUCER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1906. RENEWED JAN. 3, 19 11.

Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 29

HENNING ramnmcnwanmuann; or onicaeo, rumors.

GAS-PRODUCER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 21, 1906, Serial No. 327,229. Renewed January 3, 1911. Serial No. 600,642;

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENNING FRIEDRICH \VALLMANN, ajcitizen of the United States,

residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Counter-Current Gas-Producer,

of which the following is a description, ref-,

erence being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in

which similar letters and figures indicate like parts.

My invention relatesto gas producers and more particularly to that type of gas producers in which an air current passes through a quantity of fuel such as coal,

coke, wood, lignite, or peat, etc., and in burning a part of the same produces heat, thereby gasifying the restof the fuel; and

, the objects of my invention are, first, to uti- 'lize as great as possible a part of the gen:

erated heat for the gasifying of the fuel;

second, to heat the generated gases and vapors to a very hlgh temperature in order to convert any condensable vapors into permanent gases; third, .to arrange in the gas producer vessel two fire places, one of which is used for generating heat for the purpose of evaporatlng the volatile substance 1n the fuel, whereas the other fire-place is used forv simultaneously heating the generated vapors in order to convert the same 1ntoper- 111211161113, fixed gases, and to preferably provide these-1d two fire-places with means for exchanging their functions against each other from time to time; fourth, to promote a current of gases from one of the said fire places to the other and to provide means for controlling and for preferably revers ing the said current of gases from time to time; fifth, to provide an automatic device for reversing the said current of gases at certain periods with the aid of a device for keeping the time of such periods; sixth, to facilitate the passage of the gases from one fire place to the other in the case that the fuel cakes and offers obstruction to the passage of air or gases through it; and seventh,

This construction, however, is only i is a vertical section of a gas producer con-.

struction modified withthe object of combining the production of coke with that ofl i v 0 I use in this gasproducer preferably b tuminous coal, and the construction of the gas-producer is for the greatest part determined by the nature of bituminous coal. If thelatter is heated,'it bakes,-clogs,-in creases in volume and becomes almost impenetrable for an air current. But after its volatile substance has been evaporated or gasified, it is porousand'may be easily penetrated by an airor gas-current. If apile of bituminous coal is heated from its base,and the volatile substance of its lowest layer evaporated, then a current of air may pass in horizontal direction through this lowest. layer of the coal-pile, which lowest layer actually consists of porous coke. lhe air-current, in passing through this porous incandescent coke in horizontal direction, burns the coke and in generating heat, evaporates the volatile substance above. In the same degree as the solid material at the base of the pile is thus consumed,th'e rest of the pile is lowered by its own gravity. This process which is embodied in mygas-producer employs a horizontal air-and gas-current contrary to all known gas-producers in which upand down currents are used.

Means for removing the ashes and clinkers and means for converting the generated vapors into permanent gases arecombined with the horizontal airand gas-current and modify in some degree the-direction ofthe current. p p

The gas producer ispreferably made of cast ircnlined in its very hot. parts with fire-proof material m, m. V

10 is-an air supply pipe leading air, and in some cases also steam, through one of the valve'controlled conduits 11 or 12 to the fire grates 13 or 14' respectively, and also through one of the chambers 15 or 16 and the holes 17 or 18, to the fire places F or F,

situated on top of the grates 13 and 14 respectively and in the lower part of the fuel chamber H of the gas producer. The latter is provided at its top with a funnel or hopper h which may be ofany well known construction, although it is desirable that fuel Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

V entering air.

erated gas. They take the gas directly from the fire places, but are placed at such a distance between and from the grates and the air supply. openings 17 and 18 as to effect a chemical union of the oxygen of the air with the incandescent fuel of the fire places before any air from the said air sources can enter into the gas outlets 19 or 20. The latter enter into the chambers 21 and 22 respectively, each of which chambers forms a closed jacket around one of the fi-re-hearths F and F respectively by surrounding the same in all horizontal directions, as indicated by dotted 'lines 5 and .6 in the drawing, and communicates through one of the valve-controlled conduits 23 and 2st respectively with the gas-outlet25. The chambers 21 22 are separated from each other by a partition 9.

26, 26 are rods which, by being turned or moved up and down, maybe used for breaking up the fuel in the case that it cakes.

The front and rear walls 27 of the fuel 'or canals may bc'omitted especially in gasproducers of smaller dimensions; The chambers 15 and 16 inclose the chambers 21 and'22 respectively, as is indicated by the dotted lines 7, 7 in the drawing, and may communicate with each other through the narrow holes 8, 8, the area of which may be made adjustable. The gas issuing from one of the fire places heats the wall between the said chambers, which wall heats in turn the maybe regulated by registers 29 and '80. Each of the four conduits 11, 12, 23 and 24 may be closed by one'of the valves '0 '0 '0 and 1)., respectively, which valves are connected to and moved by a shaft L, but are to a certain extent movable on the said shaft. Springs 3 and .9 have a' tension tokeep apart the valves '0 and o as well as 12 and o as far as the buffers or stops C allow, namely, as far as to allow a simultaneous closing of all four conduits 11, 12, 23 and 2 4:, and as far as to prevent the two air supply conduits 11 and 12, as well as the two gas out-let conduits 23 and 24, being open at the same time. lVhenever the conduits 11 and 24 are intended to beclosed, the shaft L is turned in a direction opposite from the direction in which the hand of a watch turns.

The amount of air entering through the air supply openings 17 and 18 At the beginning of the turning movement the valves 41 and Q13 keepthe conduits 12 and 23 closed until the valves '0 and a, have closed the conduits 11 and 2st, and until the valves o 'and '0 are removed from their seats by their respective buffers or stops C.

It is not necessary to apply the ends of the springs .9 directly to the back of the valves. In order to protect the springs against heat, the valve may be connected to sleeves or tubes inclosing the shaft -L and-remote springs may act by meansof such sleeves or tubes on the valves. 7

As long as air is supplied to a certain fire place of the two, its temperature increases, or may remain constant after it has attained a certain height, whereas the other fire place by imparting heat to the generated vapors, gradually loses its heat. In order to keep the temperature of the latter fire-place atsubstantially the same height, some air may be introduced through the narrow holes 8, 8, the upper-air-inlet-opening and the grate of this fire-place, thereby generating aboutjust as much heat as is absorbed by the said vapors. This introduction of air into the second fire-place may be applied especially in gas-producers of large dimensions, as

there is danger in gas-producers of small dimensions that some nnbur-nt oxygen or some carbon-.dioX-i d escapes with the gas before being reduced to car bon-mono-Xid. In any case the amount of air introduced into the second fire hearth should :be limited, and

in the case that the vapors absorb more heat thanis generated by the entering a r, and if in consequence thereof the temperature of the second fire-hearth unduly decreases, orv if the chambers 15 and 16 are separated from each other by a partition without any holes in the same way as thechambers 21 and 22, and are without any commnn ica cal ly. In Fig. 2 the shaft L is connected by means of the crank 31 and by means of connectingand piston-reds to the piston in the cylinder 32, which may be connected by This may; be 'done'by hand or it may be done automatimeans of pipes and an auxiliary or pilot valve 33 to a source of fluid under pressure 34, as well as to an exhaust or discharge pipe 35. A source of electricity 36 may be automatically connected by means of a time keeplng machine 37 to a solenoid 38, which,

by moving the auxiliary valve 33, causes a stroke of the piston in the cylinder 32 and turns the shaft L for a certain angle, enough'to close two of the valves c c c and v and to open the two others. After a certain space of time, say five minutes, has

. may be the result of means for drawing the elapsed, the time keeping machine automatiwhich the crankshaft makes a certain num-- ber of revolutions per hour and the time keeping machlne may eventually dlrectly op-.

erate the auxiliary valve 33 or the shaft L of the main-valve-mechanism. In the case that the gas is used for a reversible gas engine which is provided with an air pump and air tank, the motive power for operating'the cylinder 32 may be to advantage supplied by means of compressed-air. I

In Fig. 4 the two fire places F and F are removed to a greater distance from each other, and between the two hoppers 71 and his placed another hopper it and below same adischarge port 39 for the discharge of coke. The operation of this gas producer is exactly that of the gas producer shown in Fig. 1, the only difference being that some bituminous coal is introduced into its fuel chamber through the hopper b and is discharged through the port 39 after its volatile matter has been gasified by the heat of the hot gases produced by the two fire places F and F The bituminous fuel in thecenter part of the gas producer in Fig. 1 may be separatedby perforated partitions or walls w, and e0 from the two fireplaces F and]? respectively, and the coke discharged from the center part through the port 39 may afterward be supplied into the hoppersh and h, in order-to entertain thefire at the fireplaces F and F 1 The air current in my countercurrent producer may be either the result of means for pressing air into the air supply pipe 10, or

gas out of the gas outlet pipe 25. In each case the gas may pass through a scrubber and other apparatus forcleaning it. The

air may also be mixed with steam and the V surplus of heat may be'utilized inthe same way as is done in other gas producers in which the heat of the discharged gas, for

instance, is imparted to a boiler or to a 'regenerator. -Also the air supply may be stopped entirely for some time after the fire places F and F are sufficiently hot, and steam only, or steam and liquid fuel (crude oil), or liquid fuel only, may be introduced into one and later into the other of the two fire places. They may there be decomposed into permanent gases, carry the heat to the center portion of the fuel chamber, gasify the volatile matter at this place,

' and. flow with the generated gases and vaporsto the second fire place where any condensable vapors are converted into per manent gases. Thls process may be carried transporting .dist'illates into on as long as the fire places F and F are hot enough. As soon as their temperature becomes too much reduced, the process has to be interrupted and air has to be blown for some time into the fire places in order to raise the heat therein again. 'As stated before, the heat of thegenerated gases may be indirectly transferred into the air in the chambers 15 and 16, but as this transference is only incomplete, the gases arrive in a hot state in the outlet pipe 25 and the gases may to great. advantage be used for preparatorily heating the air before entering the ash pits below the grates 18 and 14.

I claim 1. In a gas-producer, two combustionchambers for consuming residue of previous distillation, a distillation-chamber for distilling fuel and for supplying residue of distillation to the said two combustion-chambers, and canalsin communication with the said two combustion-chambers and in conof previous distillation, a distillation chambeer with metal walls for distilling fuel and for supplying residue of distillation to the said combustion-chamber, and two conduits with wallspartly integral with the metal walls of the. said distillation-chamber and in communication with this chamber and in conjunction with. means for transporting a heat carrying fluid containing substantially no free .oxygen into immediate'contact with fuel in the said distillation chamber and for residue of distillation.

"3. In a gas producer, two producershafts for secondarily distilling residue of primary distillation and for gas'ifying residue of secondary distillation and each provided with an upper and a lower air inlet and with an intermediate gas outlet and with an inlet for distillates, a distillation chamber for primarily distilling fuel and for supplying.

incandescent residue of distillation to one of the said producer shafts, and a canal'in communication with the said distillation chamber and with the said inlet for distillates ofeach' of the said two producer shafts and in conjunction with means for discharging distillates from the said distillation chamber alternately into one and into the otherof the said two producer shafts.

- 1. In a gas producer, a producer shaft for secondarily distilling residue of primary distillation and for gasifying residue of secondary distillation and provided with. a

lower and an upper inlet and "with an intermediate gas outlet, .a distillation chamber for primarily distilling fuel and for supplying-residue of distillation to the said producer shaft, a plurality of canals proximity to fuel within the said distillation chamber and communication with the said producer shaft for transferring heat from residue of distillation.within'the said producer shaft to fuel within the said disti-llation chamber, and means for discharging distillates from the said. distillation chamber.

5. In -.a gas producer, a fire-proof lined producer shaft for secondarily distilling residue of primary distillation :and for gasifying residue of secondary distillation and provided with a lower and an upper air-inlet and with an intermediate gas outlet, a distillation chamber with metal walls above the said producer shaft for primarily dis tilling fuel and for supplying residue of distillation to the said producershaft, and a plurality of canals with walls partly integral with the metal walls of the said dis-v tillation chamber and in communication with the said producer shaft for transfer:v ring heat from the'latter to fuel within the said distillation. chamber.

6. In a gas-producer, a retort for distilling solid fuel, two combustion chambers for consuming residue of distillation, a "plurality of conduits for discharging gases, from either combustion-chamber past the said retort and for discharging distillates from the said retort into either combustion chamber and walls for reventin solid fuel for consuming residue of distillation, a plura-lity of conduits for discharging gases from either combustion-chamber past the said retort and for discharging distillates from the said retort into either combi'lstionchamber, and inlets for supplying oxygen to the distillates in either combustionchamberj 8. In a gas-producer, a retort for distilling solid fuel, two combustion chambers for consumingresidue of distillation, a plurality of conduits for discharging gases from either combustion chamber past the said retort and for delivering distillates from the said retort into either combustion chamber, walls for preventing solidfuel within the said retort from entering into the said conduits, and a valve mechanism for alternately discharging distillates from one and from the other of the said two combustion chambers.

9. In a gas-producer, a retort for distil ling solid fuel, two combustion chambers for consuming residue of d1st1llat1on,-a plu-.

rality of conduits for discharging gases from either combustion chamber past the said retort and for delivering distillates from the said retortinto either combustion chamber, inlets for supplying oxygen to the distillates in either combustion chamher, and a-valve mechanism for alternately discharging distillates from one and from theother of the said two combustion cham bers.

10. In a gas producer, a fire-proof lined producer shaft for secondarily distilling residue of primary distillation and for gasifying residue of secondary distillation and provided with a lower and an upper air inlet and with an intermediate gas outlet, a metal walled distillation chamber for primarily distilling fuel above the said producer shaft and constructed to supply residue of distillation thereinto, a conduit constructed to heat fuel within the said distillation chamber, and a conduit free of solid fuel inside .of the said distillation chamber for the'passage of fluid.

11. In a gas producer, a fire-proof lined producer shaft for secondarily distilling residue of primary distillation and for gasifying residue of secondary distillation and provided witha lower and an upper air inlet and with an intermediate gas outlet, a aetal walled distillation chamber for pri- In'arily' distilling fuel above the said producer shaft constructed to supply residue of dist llatlon there nto, a conduit for transferring heat from residue of distillation within the said producer shaft to fuel within said distillation chamber, and a coniduit; 1n, communication w th the said distillation chamber and partly inclosed by the metal wall thereof and free of solid fuel forthe'passage of fluid.

12. In a gas producer, two producer shafts side by side each constructed to gasify solid fuel, two' separate conduits provided for each of the said producer-shafts, one of the said two conduits provided with an air inlet communicating through a lower and the other of the saidconduits provided with a gas outlet communlcating through an upper opening with the appertaining producer shaft, the distance between the said two two producer-shafts for thereby producing oppositely directed gas-currents through the said communicatlo r 13. In a gas producer, two producer shafts, an air-inlet into and a gas-outlet out of each of the said producer-shafts, a distillation-chamber above the said two producer shafts and in communication therewith fora supply of residue of distillation thereinto, a conduit, free of solid fuel, and forming a communication connecting the said twoproducershafts to each other past the .said structed to transfer heat from residue of distillation within either of the said two producer shafts to fuel within the said distillation chamber, and a valve mechanism adaptedto alternately deliver gas from the gasoutletof. one and from that of the other of the said two producer-shafts for thereby producing oppositely directed gas currents.

14. In a gas producer, two fire proof lined producer-shafts side by side, an air inlet into and a gas-outlet above said air inlet out of each of the said producer shafts, a metal walled distillation-chamber above the said two producer-shafts and in communication therewith for a supply of residue of distillation thereinto,a metal walled conduit, free of solid fuel, and forminga communication connecting the said two producer-shafts to each other past the said distillation chamber and constructed to transdistillation chamber and con-- V fer heat from residue of distillation within and a valve mechanism adapted to alter nately deliver gas from the gas outlet of one and from that of the other of the said two producer shafts for thereby producing oppositely directed gas currents in the said conduit. t

15. In a gas producer, a fire-proof lined producer shaft for gasifying residue of distillation and provided with a lower and an upper air inlet and with an intermediate gas outlet,a metal walled distillation chamber for distilling solid fuel above the said upper air inlet and constructed to convey residue of distillation toward the said producer shaft, a conduit constructed to heat solid fuel within said chamber by means of gaseous products of combustion, and a conduit free of solid fuel within said chamber and communicating therewith and constructed to deliver distillates therefrom into the upper part of said producershaft.

HENNING FRIEDRICH WALLMANN. Witnesses:

LILLIAN EATON, CLAUDE E. FITCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

, Washington, I). C. 

